Ladies and gentlemen: Start your engines!

At the end of the year, many of us are thinking about travel, gifts, parties, and food. We may put off thinking about ourselves and how we can improve our physical health, our emotional well-being, and our finances—isn’t that what January’s resolutions are for?

But just as it makes sense to warm up your car engine for a bit before driving on a cold day, it’s smart to start your engines now to prepare for January’s journey. It’s always easier to start working on a goal when you’re clear on what it is and what’s involved in making it.

So as you accumulate extra holiday food, make plans for getting it out of your house by January first. If you don’t want to eat something that is bad for you, don’t make it easy to get your hands on.

Stock your fridge and pantry with healthy, grab-able items like your favorite Medifast Meals, celery sticks, string cheese, and hard-boiled eggs. When you make healthy food available and convenient, you’re more likely to steer clear of the cookies and stay well-nourished on your busy December days.

If you’re hosting a family gathering, save the cooking for last so you don’t have high-calorie, high-fat foods lingering while you wait for your guests to arrive. And veer away from the items that trigger your unhealthy eating. Not a fan of coconut? Make macaroons so that you won’t be as tempted. Does chocolate bring out your cravings? Make a dessert in a flavor that you’re not as fond of and enjoy a Medifast Brownie instead.

Before we chose this path toward Optimal Health, January was about trying to undo the damage of December. After a month of “anything goes,” we have a mailbox full of bills and extra pounds of body weight to get rid of.

Now we know better: We can enjoy the holidays, connect with loved ones, and enjoy the spirit of the season without abandoning our new, healthy habits.